'We're all begging': Doctors call on Alberta government for stronger COVID-19 health measures

A group of doctors says the Alberta government's approach to curbing the spread of COVID-19 is gross negligence thatwill lead to more deaths.

Dr. Neeja Bakshi, doctor of internal medicine at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, spoke at a news conference Thursday as part of the Protect our Province Alberta advocacy group.

"We saw complete abandonment of health and well-being for Albertans from the government," Bakshi said. "They took no responsibility for an overwhelmed system."

The doctors wereresponding to Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw's COVID-19 update Thursday afternoon.

The government did not announce any new measures to restrict movement or gatherings, normandate proof of vaccine or vaccine passports.

"Because of these inactions, Albertans will die," Bakshi said.

On Thursday, the province reported that nine more people died of COVID-19, following 18 reported deathson Wednesday.

In the past 24 hours, the province added 1,510new cases and 679 people are in hospital with COVID-19, up from 647 the day before.

The main focus of the government'supdate was announcing millions of dollars for health-care aides and continuing care facilities to help free up hospital beds.

Following the Protect our Province press conference, CBCNews asked Shandro and Dr. Hinshaw's office what their response was to the doctors' pleas, but was told to refer back to the COVID-19 update earlier thatday.

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Dr. Joe Vipond, an emergency room physician in Calgary, said the government's inaction is unprofessional.

"If I went into work and reoccurringly killed patients, there'd be consequences to that," he said.

The doctors are calling on the province to require vaccine passports for people toaccess public places, do widespread rapid testing and restrict numbers of people allowed to gather.

"I call on the government to do what's right, to do what's worked in previous waves in this province," Vipond said. "Please, please, we're totally begging you, don't let Albertans suffer because of your inaction."

When asked by reporters, Shandrorepeatedlysaid the province wouldn'tmandate proof of vaccine, despite consistent callsfrom several sectors.

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The doctors also say schools and places of worship should have mandatory masking currently both are listed as exemptions on the province's maskorder.

The doctors say thefourth wave was predictable and preventable.

Dr. Paul Parks, who works inMedicine Hat, said Alberta needs targeted public health measures that will ease the pressure on the system.

"We're all begging for our government to lead."

"I don't want them to wait until I or my colleagues are in a position where I have to make a choice, does the 35-year-old get the best ventilator or does the 55-year-old?"